Old Boys catch rugby blues

Press, 31 March 1980, Page 3

Old Boys catch rugby blues

By

JOHN BROOKS

The High School Old Boys senior rugby team caught the blues at Straven Road on Saturday — but not the kind they had in mind. The champion Christchurch team’s bid to down its counterpart from California turned out to be a melancholy mission, as the touring, Old Blues side romped away to a 14-0 victory. The win by the top American club combination was as decisive as the score indicated, and the success was richly deserved, because the team’s basic play was sound and its attacking constructive, with no lack of support for the man with the ball.

Old Boys, a side shorn of several; of last year’s stars, played willingly enough but looked distinctly ordinary , against zestful opposition. . . Of course, it was the start i of the season for Old Boys, whereas Old Blues were right in the swing of things. They had been well tuned by four previous games in

New Zealand and some tips from the national coach, Bill Freeman, in Wellington.

; It was the Americans’ fourth win of the tour, and in many ways it was the most satisfactory, in spite of a harsh easterly crosswind which interfered with some of the more ambitious moves. Pack power provided the foundation for Old Blues’ success. The forwards formed a well-knit scrum; the weight was applied tellingly and Old Boys were shoved about unmercifully. In the circumstances, Jed Williams did well not to drop more than two tight heads to the New Zealand-born Jeff Rollings, who is the American national hooker.

. Working.off this solid base, the Old Blues loose forwards and, iqfeidel backs set up attacks with a practised air. There was a marked difference in approach by the two sides; Old Blues moved the ball by hand every time but Old Boys had to rely mostly on kicking, because the’ backs were under severe

pressure when they received the ball. “The whites have kicked away so much possession that it’s unbelievable,” gasped one of the American reserves.

Even allowing for the problems up front, the Old Boys’ attacks lacked imagi-

nation, and only in the final play was the Americans’ defence pierced.. Contributing to this mediocre showing was a lack of liaison among the inside backs in the first half.

In contrast, the Old Blues were full of ideas, and the diminutive first five-eights, “Bo” Meyersieck, capitalised on' the long and accurate clearances of his half-back,. Dave Bateman, to set his fellow backs running full tilt at the opposition. As a variation, Steve Ponder, the No. 8, would peel off the back of the scrum to

initiate moves with his flankers, Blane Warhurst — a particularly usefub forward — and Whit Everett. One such move produced the best attack of the game,-‘with the giant centre, Gary Bunce, bursting through a startled defence after cutting infield to link with his flankers. The ball was then moved .out again, ■ but Bateman dropped a high pass in front of the posts. . - . Phil Thomas and Simon Brown, at half-back and first five-eighths for Old Boys, were diligent in their'efforts to get their team moving. However, Warhurst and Everett gave them little peace, and some of the Old Blues’ tackling was in the blockbusting category. lan Mather, the Canterbury wing, had no chance to display his talents. Once he joined an attack from the blind-side wing, but was knocked flying before he. received the balL ■ Mark Richter ran strongly on the left wing. for the tourists, and Dennis Ward joined the line purposefully

from full-back many times. Up front *‘lkkey” Ward was a most mobile lock and Jimmy Brazil excelled in the tight, giving his full attention to working the ball clear from rucks and mauls.

Peter Rowlands and Hugh Flaus were the best of a much-buffeted Old Boys’ pack, arid Mark Wheeler was a competent full-back. But the team’s performance could best be summed up by the query of one American supporter: “Was this team really champion of its league last year?” Richter (2) and Bunce scored tries for Old Blues, and Dennis Ward kicked a conversion from the sideline., The American team led, 8-0, at half-time in a match refereed by Mr G .J. Braithwaite..

The Old Blues second XV sent many Deep Freeze men back to base rejoicing by beating the Old Boys junior side, 26-6, in an early game. Vern Smith, at centre, and Mitch Solbleski, a flanker, were conspicuous in a smart, enterprising team.